tolerable

adjective

tol·​er·​a·​ble ˈtä-lə-rə-bəl 

ˈtäl-rə-;

ˈtä-lər-bəl

1

: capable of being borne or endured

tolerable pain

2

: moderately good or agreeable : passable

a tolerable singing voice

tolerability

ˌtä-lə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌtäl-rə-

noun

tolerably

ˈtä-lə-rə-blē 

ˈtäl-rə-;

ˈtä-lər-blē

adverb

Synonyms

• endurable
• sustainable
• bearable
• sufferable

Examples of tolerable in a Sentence

The heat was tolerable for only a short time.

stubbing your toe is at least a more tolerable pain than breaking your foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Growth in this channel also makes the decline expected in Nike’s direct-to-consumer operations much more tolerable. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025

While the scenario of Nexstar and Sinclair not airing the show for a few days would probably be a tolerable hit to Disney, problems would arise the longer the standoff continues. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025

Digestive Issues Probiotics are tolerable for most people. —Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025

But those things don’t add up to make the Countryman’s problems become tolerable quirks. —New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tolerable

• intolerable

Kids Definition

tolerable

adjective

tol·​er·​able

ˈtäl-(ə-)rə-bəl,

ˈtäl-ər-bəl

1

: capable of being put up with

tolerable pain

2

: fairly good

a tolerable singing voice

tolerably

-blē

adverb